Retaking Lost Ground – Pressing On

“Now the Lord said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land – Joshua 8:1

Resounding victory, resounding defeat, a lesson learned, and now back on track to victory. Joshua and Israel suffered a humiliating and unexpected defeat at Ai. They had lost ground. They turned to the LORD. They humbly received the correction of the LORD. Now they would retake lost ground. They are ordered by God to carry on to victory. They would now snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

God promises to restore us when we repent of our sin. He realizes we are but dust. And His promise is to restore to us what the locusts of defeat have eaten from our lives (cf. Joel 2:25). God is a restoring God. He is merciful and forgiving.

It’s always harder to retake lost ground. But in the Promised Land of the fullness of the Spirit even if we suffer defeat, we must press on. In the New Testament the apostle John spoke of “a sin which does not lead to death” (1 John 5:16). A sin not leading to death is a sin that happens in the life of a believer due to spiritual immaturity, a momentary lapse in faith, a giving into temptation, or some other failing. A sin not leading to death is a sin that is repented of.

John also speaks of a “sin that leads to death.” A sin that leads to death is any sin that is not repented of. John is inspired by God to instruct his readers:

·         1 John 5:16-17 - ¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. ¹⁷ All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

If as believers we give into temptation and sin, we deal with such sin by praying and asking God for forgiveness – “he will ask.” The friend of the one caught in sin as well as the believer who has sinned pray to God for forgiveness.

Earlier in John’s first epistle he instructs that if we “confess” our sins God is faithful to forgive our sins (1 John 1:9). To “confess” means to see our sin as God sees our sin. This implies a revulsion to our sin; a holy regret. It also implies the presence of repentance. If we truly confess our sins to God and see them as He sees them then we won’t want to repeat them. Some use grace as an excuse to indulge in sin. That is abhorrent to the Lord (cf. Rom. 6:1ff.). The Holy Spirit is holy and if we want to live in the fullness of the Spirit we need to renounce and forsake our sin. If we do sin, we need to confess and repent, receive God’s forgiveness and then press on. That is what we see in Joshua 8.

Joshua 8:1-2 states, “Now the Lord said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. ² And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it.” Joshua and the people had humbled themselves before the Lord and repented of their sin (7:6-9). They had obediently followed the instructions of the Lord to deal thoroughly and completely with the sin which was in their camp, i.e. Achan taking the accursed things (7:10-26). Now the LORD begins the restoration of Joshua and His people by assuring them and calling them to press on in their mission of conquest.

Defeat due to sin has consequences. God reassures with the words, “Do not be afraid, . . . ” Defeat infects God’s people with fear (יָרֵא yârê˒, yaw-ray’) which means to be afraid or terrified. When we sin and are defeated it causes us to realize God was not with us otherwise we would have been victorious. It causes us to realize there is sin in the camp; something that has brought displeasure to God and separated me from His victory. And we realize our enemies are stronger than us. These are fear producing things to the one accustomed to God’s victory.

Fear is the foe of faith. Living in the fullness of blessing in the Promised Land is a life of faith. Fear will quench much of what God and the Spirit want to do in and through us if we allow fear to stifle our faith in Him. Faith shields us from the enemies’ attacks. It is a vital part of our spiritual armor (cf. Eph. 6:10-18). We need faith to press on with the Lord to realize the fullness of His blessing and plan.

God also tells Joshua and the people “nor be dismayed” (חָתַת châthath, khaw-thath’) which refers to brokenness, discouragement, confusion, or dismay. Defeat due to sin gets us down; it discourages us; it saps our God-given, God-dependent faithful courage from us. Now that Joshua and the people have come to God and dealt thoroughly and put away their sin, God restores them.

God calls us to press on. The consequences of defeat due to sin can be compounded if we become so fearful that we don’t press on. There comes a time where we have to trust God, leave our defeat behind, and press on with Him. This is what the apostle Paul is inspired to state in the New Testament: Philippians 3:12-15 - ¹² Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

There is work to do. We are not perfect. We can be perfectly committed to pressing on in the LORD. But sometimes we stumble. When and if we do, we need to go to God, receive His forgives and restoration,  and then we need to obey His call to press on in faith.

Sometimes we look at our sin and defeat and think we are too far gone or too defeated to carry on. We may listen to the accusations of the enemy and his dark discouraging words to give up and stay defeated. The enemy wants us to live in defeat. He wants to quench God’s plan in and through us. He wants to stop us in our tracks. He does this by telling us “You are too far gone for God to use you. You have betrayed God. You deserve to be set aside forever due to your defeat.” The enemy will say just about anything to keep you from pressing on. He wants to split you off from the ranks of God’s army. He wants to remove you from God’s plan and in so doing weaken God’s army. THAT IS NOT GOD’S WILL FOR YOU! There is forgiveness and restoration with the LORD. That is what we see in Joshua 8.

There is thorough and complete forgiveness and restoration with God. In Joshua 8 Joshua and God’s people are forgiven and fully restored. When we sin but confess and repent and seek God’s forgiveness, God will forgive us and will restore us. And God’s forgiveness is a through forgiveness. Look at what His word promises:

·         Psalm 103:8-14 - ⁸     The Lord is merciful and gracious,  Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. ⁹     He will not always strive with us,  Nor will He keep His anger forever. ¹⁰     He has not dealt with us according to our sins,  Nor punished us according to our iniquities. ¹¹     For as the heavens are high above the earth,  So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; ¹²     As far as the east is from the west,  So far has He removed our transgressions from us. ¹³     As a father pities his children,  So the Lord pities those who fear Him. ¹⁴     For He knows our frame;      He remembers that we are dust.

·         Micah 7:18 - ¹⁸     Who is a God like You,  Pardoning iniquity  And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?  He does not retain His anger forever,  Because He delights in mercy.

·         Ephesians 1:7 - ⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

·         Colossians 1:14 - ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

·         1 John 1:7-9 - ⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God forgives thoroughly and completely based on the atoning work of His only Son Jesus. He actually puts the righteousness of Jesus to our account when we put our faith in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). He makes it so that there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). To that we say “Hallelujah!”

But retaking lost ground involves a concerted whole effort. God tells Joshua, “take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai.” Retaking lost ground is more difficult than taking ground. If Joshua and the people had prayed for instruction to the LORD at the outset of their attack of Ai God may very well have ordered less than all of the people to go up and attack Ai. But now they have to make a concerted full on-everyone involved effort to overcome what was initially thought to be little Ai. It always takes more effort to retake lost ground than to do things the right way the first time and be victorious.

God strengthens for victory in retaking lost ground by reassuring us with His word. God says, “See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.” God’s word is sure. He keeps His promises (1 Kings 8:56). And so we can take hope and stand on the promises of God to press on to victory (e.g. Rom. 15:4; 2 Peter 1:3-4). God’s word fuels us to press on victoriously.

God also strengthens us by referencing past victory. God says, “And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king.” It’s as though God was reassuring them that He would again be with them and that with Him, they would have a similar outcome of victory as in the past. If God is with us, that’s all that matters (e.g. Rom. 8:31-32).

God also strengthens us with promise of provision. He says, “Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as boot for yourselves.” God assures the people that this time they will be allowed to take spoil for themselves. God is reassuring them that He will provide for them in this victory.

God strengthens by laying out a strategy for victory. God instructs Joshua and the people, “Lay an ambush for the city behind it.” God gave a clear strategy for victory. The Bible says that pride goes before destruction (Prov. 16:18). God will use the Ai people’s newfound pride in their recent victory over Israel against them. In so doing God will accomplish victory, but He will also not so subtly be communicating to His own people that pride leads to defeat.

It goes on to say in Joshua 8:3-4, “³ So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai; and Joshua chose thirty thousand mighty men of valor and sent them away by night. ⁴ And he commanded them, saying: “Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.” Joshua leads Israel obediently according to God’s plan emphasizing readiness. It was as though Joshua, in telling the army to be “ready,” was telling them to pay attention, be alert. That is always an important aspect of battle. We need to be circumspect in spiritual warfare and while living in this dangerous world (Eph. 5:15).

Now in Joshua 8:5-9, “⁵ Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city; and it will come about, when they come out against us as at the first, that we shall flee before them. ⁶ For they will come out after us till we have drawn them from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing before us as at the first.’ Therefore we will flee before them. ⁷ Then you shall rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand. ⁸ And it will be, when you have taken the city, that you shall set the city on fire. According to the commandment of the Lord you shall do. See, I have commanded you.” ⁹ Joshua therefore sent them out; and they went to lie in ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua lodged that night among the people.” The strategy God gave to Joshua was to play on the pride of Ai. Pride goes before destruction (Prov. 16:18). By using a strategy that used the pride of Ai as a weakness to exploit, God was being totally efficient in that Ai would be defeated, and would be an exemplary object lesson to Joshua and Israel about how they needed to guard against pride. This was important because their first defeat at Ai was due to prayerless self-confidence; pride.

Note also that Joshua is sure to point out, “for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.” The victory, though involving Joshua and the army of God more directly than at Jericho, the victory is still from the LORD. We are who we are and we are victorious only by God’s grace and enablement (1 Cor. 15:10).

So what would Joshua now do? Joshua 8:10-13 – “¹⁰ Then Joshua rose up early in the morning and mustered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. ¹¹ And all the people of war who were with him went up and drew near; and they came before the city and camped on the north side of Ai. Now a valley lay between them and Ai. ¹² So he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. ¹³ And when they had set the people, all the army that was on the north of the city, and its rear guard on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.” God’s strategy must be obediently implemented. God’s strategy and way to victory always involves us taking action obediently. Love is an action and if we say we love Jesus, we need to actively obey Him (cf. John 14:15, 21). Faith without works or implementation is dead (cf. James 2).

It’s important to realize the enemies’ vulnerabilities. “¹⁴ Now it happened, when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hurried and rose early and went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at an appointed place before the plain. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. ¹⁵ And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. ¹⁶ So all the people who were in Ai were called together to pursue them. And they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. ¹⁷ There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. So they left the city open and pursued Israel.” (Joshua 8:14-17). The enemies of God are blind to His ultimate will. Without the Holy Spirit the unsaved person cannot discern the things of God (cf. 1 Cor. 2:9-14). The sinner is blinded by Satan (2 Cor. 4:4); pawns in his unholy plans (Eph. 2:1-3), and ultimately doomed to defeat (cf. Romans 16:20; James 4:7; 1 John 4:4). The only hope for the lost is the light of the glory of God’s gospel grace (1 John 1:5-9). Unfortunately God in Christ has shone His “true Light” into the world but the world rejected it (John 1:9-13).

So what was next in this restoration to the path of victory? “¹⁸ Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand toward the city. ¹⁹ So those in ambush arose quickly out of their place; they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and they entered the city and took it, and hurried to set the city on fire. ²⁰ And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and behold, the smoke of the city ascended to heaven. So they had no power to flee this way or that way, and the people who had fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers.” (Joshua 8:18-20). God tells us when it is time to act. He tells us how and when to implement His plan. God only asks that His leaders and people obey Him. He will give us victory if we are attentive to His voice and obedient to His instruction. “²¹ Now when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and struck down the men of Ai. ²² Then the others came out of the city against them; so they were caught in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side. And they struck them down, so that they let none of them remain or escape. ²³ But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.” (Joshua 8:21-23). When God’s people are obedient to God and work in unity, complete victory is assured.

The work of restoration involves dealing completely with the sources of previous defeat. We see this in the account that states, “²⁴ And it came to pass when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness where they pursued them, and when they all had fallen by the edge of the sword until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword. ²⁵ So it was that all who fell that day, both men and women, were twelve thousand—all the people of Ai. ²⁶ For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. ²⁷ Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as booty for themselves, according to the word of the Lord which He had commanded Joshua. ²⁸ So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation to this day. ²⁹ And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until evening. And as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his corpse down from the tree, cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raise over it a great heap of stones that remains to this day.” Joshua 8:24-29). Again we see the total desolation and elimination of pagan inhabitants according to the instruction of God. And again we should not see this as evil or heartless decimation of a people. God in His sovereignty knows the life destiny of each individual person that has been ordered destroyed. His foreknowledge dictated these people were beyond His redemption. He has waited over 400 years for them to repent and they did not (cf. Genesis 15:16). If we see this destruction merely from a human perspective we will misunderstand the instruction of God. He knows what is best and we have to trust and obey Him. That is what Joshua has done.

And the first thing Joshua does after getting back on the road of victory is to worship the Lord. “³⁰ Now Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal, ³¹ as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” (Joshua 8:30-31a). The first thing Joshua does after regaining the lost ground of Ai is worship the LORD. So too should we worship and offer thanks to the LORD when He restores us and enables us to retake lost ground. And notice Joshua builds an altar of “whole stones” just as God prescribed in His word (Exodus 20:25). We need to make sure that when we worship the LORD we worship Him according to His word. We have no right to worship God our way; that will lead to rejection and compounding our sin (e.g. David and return of the ark - 1 Sam. 5-6 and 2 Sam. 6). “And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.” (Joshua 8:31b). Burnt offerings represented totally permanent surrender to the LORD. It was a statement in worship of that which I give will not be taken back just as a burnt offering cannot be unburned. The peace offering indicated fellowship with God as you would eat together a fellowship meal in the presence of God.

Joshua also brought the word of God into central focus so that a statement would be made that from now on they were committed to following it obediently. “³² And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.” (Joshua 8:32). Again God’s word is kept central to God’s people. It’s in God’s word that He speaks to us and instructs us in the way of victory in the Promised Land of the fullness of the blessing of the Spirit. “³³ Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. ³⁴ And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. ³⁵ There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.” (Joshua 8:33-35).  As part of the victory celebration Joshua assembled the people half in front of Mount Gerizim and half in front of Mount Ebal and there before the people in the presence of the LORD Joshua read “all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.” The acoustics of this area are perfect so that all the people would be able to hear God’s word read out loud.

Victory comes when we listen to the LORD and faithfully follow His word. That is the way to victory. And that is the way to regain lost ground if we suffer defeat. Blessing or cursings are determined by our decisions. Blessing is always available if we trust and obey the Lord. But a curse of defeat and difficulty and lost presence of the LORD is the consequence of disobeying His word. God wants to bless not curse and He will bless, if we in faith press on and follow Him.

A Call for Heavenly Patriotism

For our citizenship is in heaven . . . . – Philippians 3:20

Have you been grieved by the direction our nation has been taking the last few years, decades? Are you discouraged politically? Have you come to the realization that we no longer live in a two party system because it doesn’t much matter whether a Republican or Democrat is in office. Are you upset that your elected “leaders” all seem to be self-serving and carry out an agenda that is often quite different than the one they campaigned on? Are you convinced you can’t trust your government or anyone from your local town hall to Washington D.C.? Are you ashamed of your country? Have you thrown your patriotism away because your embarrassed to be associated with such proliferation of immoral licentiousness? Have you just had it with the way this world is going? If you answered “Yes,” to any of these questions I have a solution for you. This article is a call to reset our sights on being heavenly citizens. This is A Call to Heavenly Patriotism.

If your eyes are only on the things of this world your joy will fade away. Corrie Ten Boom, Holocaust survivor, used to say, Look around be distressed. Look within be depressed. Look to Christ and be at rest.  This study is based on some verse in Philippians that will hopefully give a proper perspective on proper patriotism in this environment of political mess. The words of Paul I’d like to focus on are:

·         Philippians 3:20-21 - ²⁰ For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

The above verses conclude a chapter in which Paul describes joy in terms of how it is related to complete consecration to God. He said knowing Jesus, even in the fellowship of His suffering, was far greater than any human achievement he ever attained to. In fact he said all his earthly achievements were garbage in comparison to knowing Jesus. Paul contrasts this total consecration with those whose god is their belly, who are only concerned  with earthly things and who are as  result, enemies of God. He then punctuates this chapter by pointing believers to a heavenly perspective. He seeks to have his readers lift their eyes to heaven.

Paul substantiates his call to a fully surrendered consecrated life by pointing out, “For our citizenship is in heaven.” The word “citizenship” (Greek politeuma) means citizenship, colony, commonwealth, or community. We get the English word politics from the original Greek word politeuma from which “citizenship” is translated. One commentary states of this word:

Politeuma was used in classical Greek from the Fifth Century B.C. onward of the various acts, departments, and functions of government (cf. Bauer). It was used of the business of government, the administration of government, and the policy of government (both local and foreign). Aristotle used it in his Politics for “the government,” those who hold political power or who hold a share in it.

From the time of the Third Century B.C. politeuma also meant “citizenship.” Politeuma was frequently used to designate a “corporate body of citizens,” a colony of foreigners who are residents in a foreign city while their citizenship and allegiance is elsewhere. It was used, for example, of a “body of Judeans living in Berenice,” or of “Cretans living in Egypt.” Politeuma is not found in the canonical books of the Septuagint but is found in 2 Maccabees 12:7 where it is said that Judas wanted to “root out the whole community of Joppa” (RSV). Hence, politeuma can mean “community.” ^[1]

Christians are a “colony of foreigners” in this world. We are temporary residents. Our “citizenship and allegiance is elsewhere.” We should see ourselves as passing through this world on the way to our true eternal destination of heaven with Jesus. This perspective should impact the way we live. This world is not our final destination. We are on our way to a different far more glorious and perfect destination, heaven.

It would be easy, given the state of governments and the political upheaval that so often characterizes the world, to be enticed into the quicksand of horizontal political endeavors. While we are to be good citizens within the government systems God has sovereignly placed us (Rom. 13), we are also called to a higher calling. As Citizens of heaven, when the ways of God and the ways of man come into conflict, our position is clear, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29; cf. Daniel 3:16-18; 6:10, 13).

A patriot is “one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests.” ^[2] We are, therefore, to be heavenly patriots. What is a heavenly patriot? I asked that question to a group of pastor friends of mine and here is a sample of what they said:

• Being a citizen of heaven means that heavenly concerns and divine guidance take precedence over anything and everything that is earthly generated and conflicts with the grace and character of God. The way I see it is if we all stood as firmly on our rights enumerated in the US Constitution as citizens of the USA like we do our rights and privileges granted to us by God, this nation would be a whole different place.

We could have been born at any time in history, and in any place in this world, and God through His divine Providence saw fit to place me HERE, in this country, NOW – when they needed me most. I do not want to leave God or country down. I once took an oath to defend this nation against all enemies foreign and domestic, and as long as I can do that and still look my loving and gracious God in the eye when it is over, I will fight to the death to defend this land and its people. The way I see it, I have more right to do that than I do to defend myself against persecution for my faith.  In the former I have been given a mandate by God, through His Holy Word to obey the laws of this land that HE has allowed to exist, yet when it comes to persecution for my faith, I am required to turn the other cheek and suffer as Christ has suffered which is my reasonable service.^[3]

• . . . .  I have often said that if our nation decides to take God out of our country, they will have to take a chisel and hammer to Washington, DC - His Name and His word are carved in stone everywhere. . . . We are citizens of heaven and citizens on earth, placed here as salt and light and as witnesses of Jesus Christ (not His attorneys, but His witnesses).  Thus, we ought to always conduct ourselves accordingly.  So many pastors I have spoken with believe that we have only a heavenly responsibility and some believe that we have only an earthly responsibility.  I believe that it is not either/or, but both/and - let us not disconnect the two but exercise both in all that we do.  We . . . pray and participate - to awaken ourselves and as many as we can to the privileges and responsibilities that come with our dual citizenship.^[4]

 

• Our ultimate citizenship is in Heaven, not on earth.  We are here as ambassadors, advancing the interests of our Better Country.  We are on temporary assignment here, but we have a permanent home in Heaven.  No matter how bad things get with the kingdoms of the earth, the Kingdom of Heaven is ruled by a wise and righteous King.  And He will return here and make all things right, and one of our goals is to hasten His return by properly representing Him while we're on our assignments here.^[5]

 

• A heavenly citizen is a good citizen – wherever he/she may live.  A heavenly citizen is one who does not vote Democrat vs. Republican, red vs. blue, conservative vs. liberal but biblical vs. world.  Unfortunately, most Christians go to the polls with a worldly world-view rather than a biblical one.  They will vote their pocketbook, personal interests, party line or for “the face” without filtering their choices through the Word of God.  A heavenly citizen does not go with the stream but votes his/her Bible.^[6]

 

So what is a heavenly patriot? A heavenly patriot hungers and thirsts for righteousness (Mat. 5:6). A heavenly citizen knows they are blessed if called upon to suffer for righteousness sake (Mat. 5:10; 1 Pet. 3:4). Jesus said if we are persecuted for righteousness sake we should, “rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven” (Mat. 5:12). We heavenly patriots are, quite simply, yet profoundly, called to a higher standard than the lost sinner who lives in and for the things of this world. What characterizes this joyful heavenly patriotism that God calls us to?

First, God’s Heavenly Patriotism is about living united with other heavenly patriots (3:20a). Paul says, “For our.” He emphasizes the community aspect of citizenship. To the Galatians he was inspired to write, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). There is a “law,” a principle of Christ that says we should stand by and help our brothers and sisters in Christ. A burden is differentiated by Paul from a “load.” A load is each individual’s responsibility (Gal. 6:5). A “burden” is that too heavy for anyone person to bear. We are to help our brethren when they are weighed down with burdens too heavy for them to bear alone. Paul was willing to be “poured out” for the Philippians (Phi. 2:17). God calls heavenly citizens to support one another and sacrifice for one another; to love one another (Rom. 13:8; 1 Thess. 3:12; 4:9). It’s a joy producing thing to receive help with burdens and to give help to others with burdens.

Second, God’s Heavenly Patriotism lives with a heavenly perspective (3:20b). Paul says, “For out citizenship is in heaven.” “Heaven” (Greek ouranos) refers to the sky and is used to point to the abode of God. It used to refer to the air or sky such as where birds fly (Mat. 6:26; 8:20; Acts 10:12; 11:6). It is used in reference to the location of the stars (Matt. 24:29, 35; Mark 13:25, 31; Heb. 11:12). And it is used to refer to the eternal habitation of God (Matt. 5:16; 12:50; Rev. 3:12; 11:13; 16:11; 20:9). Heaven is also the abode of angels (Matt. 18:10; 22:30; cf. Rev. 3:5).

With this in mind scripture speaks of heavens. When Jesus ascended He “passed through the heavens” (Heb. 4:12; cf. also Eph. 4:10 Heb. 7:26; 8:1). Paul speaks of the “third heaven” (2 Cor. 12:2). The first heaven is the sky, the second heaven is where the stars and planets are, and the third heaven is the abode of God. The Father has always been in heaven (Mat. 5:16; 12:50). Jesus is now in heaven (Rom. 8:34; 1 Pet. 3:22; Heb. 9:24). The Holy Spirit descended from heaven at Pentecost (1 Pet. 1:12).  Jesus will descend from heaven to the clouds and receive His saints at the rapture (1 Thess. 4:16). Seven years of Tribulation on earth will take place as God pours out His wrath from heaven on a Christ rejecting world (Rev. 16).  Then Jesus will return at His Second Coming with His saints and angels (Mat. 24:30; Jude 14; 2 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 19).  Jesus will set up His earthly Kingdom on earth for a thousand years (Rev. 20). And at the end of that thousand year reign there will be the Great White Throne Judgment wherein sinners will be judged (Rev. 20). After this a new earth and heaven will be created by God (Is. 65:17; 2 Pt. 3:10; Rev. 20 and 21). Finally, we the saints of God will one day be welcomed into this new heavenly abode (2 Cor. 5:1).  ^[7]

Third, God’s Heavenly Patriotism lives with eager expectation of Christ’s return (3:20c). Christian, we have a glorious future to look forward to and that should cause us to rejoice. In fact Paul says we “eagerly” (Greek apekdechomai) or with great expectation we intensely wait for our “Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” It’s exciting to think of the prospects of Jesus’ return. We should live every day with the intense and great expectation that today could be the day Jesus returns for us! That is a blessed hope that fuels Jesus’ joy within us (Titus 2:13).

Fourth, God’s Heavenly Patriotism Contends for the Lordship of Christ (3:20d). Paul identifies Jesus as, “the Lord Jesus Christ.” A Day is coming when Jesus will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16), but right now there is a “god of this age,” Satan, a usurper who is battling against Jesus for control of this world. This usurper Satan is trying to force his way into a position of lordship that only rightfully belongs to Jesus. Satan is a deceiver and part of his strategy is to blind people to the truth of God (John 8:44; 2 Cor. 4:4). Satan’s ultimate goal is to reign in place of God (Isaiah 14:12-15). Satan wants to be the King of kings and Lord of lords. That just isn’t going to happen. Satan is so deep in sin and self-deceived, (sin has a warping deceiving effect on those who sin – 1 John 1:8, 10) that he actually believes he can unseat God. He is like a maniacal genius consumed with delusions of grandeur and devoid of truth and reality. He will ultimately be defeated (Rev. 20). But until then the heavenly patriot must realize we are in a war.

The heavenly patriot realizes we are in a war. While we exist and function in a material world, beneath the surface in the spiritual realm, (a realm just as real as the material world), is a war of the ages raging. Guns and explosives have little impact on our enemy in this war. We need to use different weapons. Paul explained our situation like this:

• 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

 

This verse would eliminate the idea of bombing abortion clinics and assassinating sinners. Guns and hand grenades are not the weapons of the Heaven’s patriot.  The weapons of the heavenly patriot are more powerful than that because they are “mighty in God.” We are in an unseen war, a spiritual war that make all other wars pale in comparison. The evil we see on the surface are only symptoms of a deeper evil. Because this war is in the spiritual realm the primary battlefield is in our minds and hearts. The sin we see in the world such as violence, hatred, perversity, injustices, and spiritual blindness are all symptoms of hearts and minds that are depraved and separated from God. The battles to be fought therefore are battles for the minds and hearts of people. Satan tries to establish strongholds of false, deceptive, lying thoughts and emotions in people. Sinful actions are the overflow of sinful hearts. The thoughts which oppose the “knowledge of God” must be cast down, captured and brought into obedience to Christ. The hearts and minds of people must be brought into subjection to the Lordship of Jesus. ONl then will true change for the better occur.

God has given us powerful weapons to wage this war. What are these weapons? Paul further describes the war we are in and the weapons we are provided by God when he is inspired to write:

• Ephesians 6:10-18 - ¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

 

First to fight effectively and win this war we must depend on the power of God (6:10). We have to pay attention to the detailed war strategy God has given us in His word putting on all the armament He has provided (6:11). We need to recognize our struggle is not against people as much as it is against Satan and his demonic forces who manipulate people in sinful ways (6:12). Notice how they are referred to as “principalities . . . powers . . . rulers of the darkness of this age.” These are all words that speak of rule. Satan’s objective is to dethrone God and usurp His throne. The titles mentioned here speak to that objective. This war is a struggle for the throne of the LORD. This is not to imply that Satan and God are equal in power in any way. God is Almighty and Everlasting. Satan is created being, a fallen angel. But the struggle as far as we are concerned can be formidable.

We have to take a stand for God and His word (6:13). To do so we need put on all the armor of God: the belt buckle of truth which keeps all the other armor in place (6:14a); the breastplate of righteousness which guards our hearts (6:14b); the shoes of the gospel so we take the gospel wherever we go (6:15); the shield of faith to ward off the lying accusations of the enemy (6:16); the helmet of salvation which protects our mind from thoughts of condemnation (6:17a); and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (6:17b)  – all that the heavenly patriot does in this war needs to be done in God’s truth. And lastly the heavenly patriot relies on prayer, the long range artillery of the Lord which softens enemy bunkers so that we can storm the beachhead (6:18). The heavenly citizen must be in constant communication with their Commander in prayer and praying always for those in earthly leadership positions since influencing and controlling earthly leaders is a prime target of the enemy (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

We are in a tough struggle, but we have one piece of incredibly important information about this war. We know the outcome! We know that in the end Jesus wins. That’s incredibly important because that makes us “more than conquerors.” Read the words of Paul in this regard:

• Romans 8:31-39 - ³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” ³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Nothing the enemy does to us can separate us from God. He can, literally, capture us and isolate us from other people, but Jesus will be there with us. Jesus said He would never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). God is for us, it doesn’t matter who is against us. God has proved by giving the most precious of things, His only Son Jesus, that He will provide every resource needed for victory in the war. We are settled and secure on the battle lines knowing God loves us and is for us. We may be physically killed, but that only brings us into the glorious presence of Jesus. Nothing can separate us from God. That information makes us more than conquerors. What does that mean, what is a “more than conqueror”? A conqueror goes up against an opponent hoping they have mustered enough forces and a good enough strategy to defeat their enemy. Even the most confident commander entertains the possibility of an upset victory by their opponent. Not so the more than conqueror. We are “more than conquerors” because we go into battle knowing the outcome. There is no doubt, Jesus wins and therefore we win. We are supremely confident in our Lord. He has never failed before and He will never fail ever. The heavenly patriot therefore is supremely confident because of the trustworthiness and omnipotence of the Commander leading them.

Fifth, God’s Heavenly Patriotism relies on the transforming power of Jesus (3:21a). Politics, psychology, worldly philosophy, social sciences, sports, entertainment, nothing in this world can deal with the root problem of this world which is sin. The only thing powerful enough to deal with sin is the power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16). Only full surrender to Jesus can bring the change needed to make a difference in this world (e.g. Rom. 12:1-2). God alone can give us the power needed to live a godly, holy, righteous, meaningful and purposeful life that is satisfying and complete. It’s only through knowing Him and experiencing His power that we can escape the corruption that is in the world (2 Pet. 1:3-4).

Paul speaks of the fact that when Jesus does return, He will “transform” (Greek metaschematidzo) or change, fashion, figure, transfigure believers. This word is to be distinguished from another Greek term metamorphoo. Metamorphoo refers to a change in “character, nature, the very essence of a person or thing.” This is the word used to describe the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mat. 17:2). Metaschēmatizō “refers to that which is changeable, the outward “fashion” of a person or thing, e.g., a person’s gestures, speech, clothing.” When Paul spoke of Satan as one who “transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14) he used  metaschēmatizō alluding to a change on the surface, in appearance and not a change in his essence. ^[8]

What significance does Paul’s inspired choice of words have? When Jesus returns He will transform our “lowly bodies,” bodies susceptible to illness, aging, sinful warped appetites, disease, and death into bodies like the one Jesus has. Our bodies will “conformed” (Greek summorphos) or fashioned like His, “glorious body.” No more aches, pains, sickness, disease, or weakness due to sin. It will be the ultimate body makeover! The apostle John chimes in with his own inspired words of confirmation and agreement saying:

• 1 John 3:2-  Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

 

Jesus’ “glorious” (Greek doxa body is radiant, honorable, splendorous. We won’t be Jesus, but we will have bodies like Jesus!  When Jesus returns and we are united to Him we will receive glorious resurrection bodies unshackled at last from the deteriorating effects of planetary sin.   That is reason to rejoice!

Sixth, God’s Heavenly Patriotism rests in the Sovereign Power of Jesus (3:21b). Paul says, “according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” The word “subdue” (Greek hupotasso) means to make subject, to make submit, or put in submission to. Jesus has sovereign power to put “all things” in submission to Himself. Not only will Jesus powerfully change our bodies, but He will bring “all things” under His sovereign Kingship and rule.

Commentator Adam Clark makes the following comment:

According to the working] κατα την ενεργειαν According to that energy, by which he can bring all things under subjection to himself. Thus we find that the resurrection of the body is attributed to that power which governs and subdues all things, for nothing less than the energy that produced the human body at the beginning, can restore it from its lapsed and degraded state into that state of glory which it had at its creation, and render it capable of enjoying God throughout eternity. The thought of this glorious consummation was a subject of the highest joy and confidence amongst the primitive Christian. This earth was not their home; and they passed through things temporal so as not to lose those which were eternal.^[9]

Remember what Paul was inspired to write in the previous chapter:

• Philippians 2:9-11 - ⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

That day is coming and every heavenly patriot of God looks forward to that day and lives in light of it. Even though things on earth may look bleak and even hopeless at times, the heavenly patriot can always take joy in the solidly sure fact that one day Jesus will indeed “subdue all things to Himself.” Take joy in that my fellow heavenly patriots.

 

 

 

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[1] Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary - The Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary – Pi-Rho.

 

[2] Merriam-Webster, Inc: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Eleventh ed. Springfield, Mass. : Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003

[3] Tom Spithaler, personal friend and fellow minister of the author.

[4] Denny Stahl, Senior Pastor, Calvary Chapel  Grants Pass Oregon - http://www.calvarygp.com/

[5] Greg Boyd, Senior Pastor, Calvary Chapel of Merced, Merced, California - http://www.calvarychapelmerced.org/

[6] Ken Merrihew, Senior Pastor, Calvary Chapel Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - http://www.calvaryokc.com/

^[7]Vine, W. E. ; Unger, Merrill F. ; White, William: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville : T. Nelson, 1996, S. 2:298

[8] Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary - The Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary – Lambda-Omicron.

 

^[9]Clarke, Adam: Clarke's Commentary: Philippians. electronic ed. Albany, OR : Ages Software, 1999 (Logos Library System; Clarke's Commentaries), S. Php 3:21